Jonathan Mensah of Ghana in action during the 2014 FIFA World Cup (Image: FIFA via Getty)

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Hat-trick hero Leigh Griffiths sent Celtic soaring eight points clear at the top last night – as the club eye up a move for Ghana World Cup stopper Jonathan Mensah.

Griffiths fired a blistering 18-minute treble after coming off the bench as the Hoops hit back from a goal down to crush Killie.

And with boss Ronny Deila keen to beef up his defence this summer Evian ace Mensah is on the Parkhead radar.

With the prospect of Celtic losing both on-loan Jason Denayer and Virgil van Dijk at the end of the season, Deila is seeking backline reinforcements.

Mensah, 24, is available on a free this summer when his deal at the French club expires and he has been watched by Hoops scouts.

The centre-back featured in all of Ghana’s three matches at last year’s World Cup in Brazil and also helped his country finish runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations two months ago.

Deila was grateful to Griffiths last night for an inspirational show and reckons the striker has such a sweet left foot he could be a star kicker in the NFL.

The Hoops had fallen behind to a shock Darryl Westlake opener just after half-time before Kris Commons hit back.

Then Griffiths entered the fray and blew Killie away. Boss Deila insisted he could even forgive the striker for scoffing teacakes as long as he keeps gorging on goals after taking his tally to 15 for the season.

He said: “Leigh was fabulous. You can’t do any better than three goals. He could be a kicker in American football – he’d be good.

“He’s improved a lot in my time here. He’s training well and as a 24-hour athlete he’s been getting better and better, even though he eats cakes on the bench sometimes.

“But it’s just a start – he needs to keep working on small things and he’ll get even more goals.

“He likes proving he shouldn’t be on the bench and that’s how to do it. That’s what I expect from the other subs as well. You can be angry but the way to get back into the team is to prove you deserve to play – like Leigh did today.”